TL;DR: The PG-13 rating is the most inconsistent label in entertainment. It’s a "catch-all" that includes everything from the mild humor of Barbie to the dark, psychological intensity of The Batman. Understanding the "one F-bomb rule," the bloodless violence loophole, and why TV-14 is often "harder" than PG-13 is the key to keeping your sanity.
Quick Links for the "Is this okay?" Moment:
- Stranger Things (TV-14: High intensity, horror elements)
- Marvel Cinematic Universe (PG-13: Generally safe, but watch for "The Guardians" language)
- The Hunger Games (PG-13: Heavy themes of kids killing kids)
- Wednesday (TV-14: Dark, but mostly "spooky" rather than "gory")
Back in 1984, Steven Spielberg essentially forced the MPAA to create the PG-13 rating because Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was too scary for a PG, but not "adult" enough for an R. Fast forward to 2025, and PG-13 has become the default setting for almost every blockbuster.
The official definition is "Parents Strongly Cautioned," but that tells you zero about why you should be cautious. In the industry, PG-13 is the "money rating." It’s wide enough to let in the teenagers (and their wallets) but edgy enough to keep them from feeling like they’re watching a "baby movie."
The problem for us is that the "edge" is moving. A PG-13 movie from 1995 looks like a Disney Channel Original Movie compared to some of the stuff hitting theaters today.
The MPAA is weirdly obsessed with specific words rather than the vibe of the dialogue. Generally, a PG-13 movie is allowed one use of the "F-word," provided it’s used as an exclamation and not in a sexual context.
If they say it twice? Automatic R. If they use it once to describe a sexual act? Likely an R.
This leads to some hilarious (and confusing) moments where a movie like Knives Out feels totally sophisticated and "adult" despite the rating, while a superhero movie might use its one "allowance" just to prove it’s cool.
What to look for:
- The "S-word" count: PG-13 has no real limit on "sh*t" or other middle-tier profanity.
- Anatomical slang: This is becoming much more common in PG-13 comedies.
- Community Context: About 65% of parents in the Screenwise community report that they don't mind the "one F-bomb" rule for kids 12+, but they find the constant "casual" swearing in modern PG-13 scripts more annoying.
Ask our chatbot for a list of PG-13 movies with minimal profanity
This is where PG-13 gets truly deceptive. The rating system is much more lenient with violence than it is with sex or language. You can essentially destroy an entire city, vaporize thousands of aliens, and have a high-octane fistfight, as long as there isn't "lingering" blood or gore.
Take The Batman. It is a dark, gritty, borderline-horror detective story. It’s PG-13. Meanwhile, a movie with a five-second scene of someone smoking a cigarette or a single "too-real" depiction of a drug used might get slapped with the same rating or higher.
The "Fantasy" Pass: If the violence is directed at robots, aliens, or monsters, the MPAA basically looks the other way. This is why Lord of the Rings can have massive battles with decapitations (of orcs) and stay PG-13.
If you’re confused why Stranger Things on Netflix feels scarier than most PG-13 movies, it’s because TV ratings (set by the networks/streamers themselves) and movie ratings (set by the MPAA) are two different beasts.
TV-14 is the "Wild West." Because streaming services want to keep you bingewatching, they often push the boundaries of TV-14 to include:
- Intense psychological trauma.
- Body horror (looking at you, Stranger Things Season 4).
- Heavy social themes that might be rated R in a theater.
As a rule of thumb, TV-14 is usually more "mature" than PG-13. If your 11-year-old is asking to watch a TV-14 show, you definitely want to check a Screenwise guide before saying yes.
Let’s be real: kids want to watch PG-13 because it feels like a rite of passage. In middle school, "PG" is a death sentence for your social status.
Kids are looking for:
- Stakes: They want to feel like the characters are in actual danger.
- Complexity: They’re starting to understand that the world isn't just "good guys vs. bad guys."
- Cultural Currency: If everyone at the lunch table is talking about Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, they don't want to be left out.
Roblox is a great example of this "aging up" desire. Many kids move from "All Ages" experiences to those tagged for "13+" because the games have more complex mechanics and, frankly, more "clout."
Every kid is different, but here is how the Screenwise community generally breaks down the PG-13 landscape:
The "Soft" PG-13 (Ages 10+)
These are movies that probably could have been PG if they didn't have one specific scene or a few extra "hells" and "damns."
- Barbie (Existential themes, but very clean)
- Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (Action violence, some crude humor)
- Ant-Man (Lighthearted Marvel action)
The "Standard" PG-13 (Ages 12+)
The sweet spot. Expect action, some intensity, and maybe one "big" swear word.
- Top Gun: Maverick (High intensity, very little "objectionable" content)
- Avatar: The Way of Water (Long, some sad moments, stylized violence)
- The Hunger Games (Heavy themes, but culturally significant for this age)
The "Hard" PG-13 (Ages 14+)
These are the ones where you might want to watch with them or at least have a conversation afterward.
- The Batman (Very dark, borderline R for intensity)
- A Quiet Place (High-stress horror)
- Oppenheimer (Wait, this is R—but it’s a great example of why 14-year-olds are suddenly asking to see R-rated historical dramas).
When your kid asks to watch something that feels a bit "old" for them, don't just say "it's PG-13, wait two years." That’s a conversation killer.
Try this instead:
- "I heard that show has some pretty intense scenes involving [topic]. Do you feel like you're in the mood for something heavy, or do you want something more chill tonight?"
- "The rating says PG-13 for 'thematic elements.' Let's look up what that means together." (This is where you pull up the Screenwise media page for the title).
- "I'm okay with you watching this, but I want to watch the first episode with you to see if the 'vibe' is right for our family."
The PG-13 rating is a suggestion, not a rule. It’s a messy, corporate-driven label that often prioritizes the number of swear words over the actual psychological impact of the content.
As an intentional parent, your job isn't to follow the MPAA blindly—it's to know your kid. Some 11-year-olds can handle the complexity of Interstellar, while some 14-year-olds might still get nightmares from the jump-scares in Five Nights at Freddy's.
Next Steps:
- Check the WISE score: Before hitting play, look up the movie on Screenwise to see how other intentional parents rate the "educational value" vs. the "brain rot" factor.
- The "First 15" Rule: Watch the first 15 minutes of any new TV-14 show with your kid. Usually, the "tone" is established early.
- Talk about the "Why": If you say no, explain why. "It's not that I don't think you can handle a swear word; it's that I think the way this movie treats [topic] is kind of gross/lazy."
Check out our full guide on decoding TV ratings vs Movie ratings